CA MFT Law & Ethics study guide
CA MFT Law & Ethics · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The California Law and Ethics Examination is the statutory exam that associate marriage and family therapists must pass on the path to LMFT licensure in California. It is administered by the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS), the state regulator, and this page is an independent study resource - we are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the BBS. The exam is for registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapists (AMFTs) who have completed the required qualifying master's degree and registered with the Board before accruing postdegree supervised experience in California, except under the 90-day rule. Content is entirely California law and ethics as it applies to MFT practice: the statutes and regulations governing scope of practice, supervision requirements, confidentiality and mandated reporting, professional boundaries, advertising, unprofessional conduct, and disciplinary processes. Format is multiple choice; the exact question count, time limit, and passing score are not published in the source material available here, so this page does not state them. Preparation should center on the Board's own publications - the Law and Ethics Examination Candidate Handbook and the Law and Ethics Examination FAQs - read alongside the Statutes and Regulations linked from the BBS site. Topics on this exam: California Law and Ethics. The CA MFT Law & Ethics study guide has 1 section and about 463 words.
01California Law and Ethics for MFTs: Statutory Framework, Scope of Practice, and Ethical Decision-Making
California marriage and family therapists practice under the Business and Professions Code (BPC), primarily the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Act (BPC §§4980.00 et seq.), and the regulations in Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations (16 CCR). The Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) licenses and disciplines LMFTs, associates, and trainees. Candidates must know the tiered registration system: a trainee (enrolled in a qualifying master's or doctoral program) may accrue hours only under direct supervision; an associate (post-degree, pre-license) holds a registration number and accrues hours under required supervision; an LMFT holds the license. Each tier has distinct supervision ratios, hour caps, and documentation duties.
463 words, about 2 minMore study resources for CA MFT Law & Ethics
- Practice questionsUnder California law, a licensed MFT must report suspected child abuse to which authority?
- FlashcardsChild abuse reporting standard. An MFT must report to a designated agency when the therapist has knowledge of or reasonably suspects child abuse or neglect.
- Cheat sheetMandated child abuse reporting under Penal Code 11165.7 and 11166: an MFT who has knowledge of or observes a child whom the MFT knows or reasonably suspects has been the victim of child abuse or neglect must report to a designated agency; a reasonable suspicion standard applies, not proof.
- Key termsMandated Reporter. A professional required by law to report known or reasonably suspected child abuse or neglect to authorities.
- Study planMap the California MFT scope of practice, licensing tiers, and core statutory definitions from the Business and Professions Code and the Board of Behavioral Sciences materials into a personal outline.
- Common mistakesThe exam is a jurisprudence and ethics exam, not a clinical judgment exam.
- Exam-day guideBring the original, unexpired ID in the name that matches your registration.